Hand opening can



June 9, 1931. J. F. QUINN HAND OPENING CAN Filed July 31. 1929 INVENTOR. JOSEPH F. Q

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH F. QUINN, OF BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEO. W. CASWELL 00.,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA HAND OPENING CAN Application filed July 31 1929. Se'rial No. 382,440.

This invention relates to tin eansand has for its object a can which may be opened with the fingers only so as not to require a can opener or other tool. Also a can of this 5 type which is cheap and easy to manufacture and easy to open, and which when opened will provide a relatively small working opening in the end of the can with a finished or smooth edge, so that the commodity may be reached therethrough without opening the entire end of the can.

Other objects and advantages of the con struction will appear in the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coffee can with my improved opening arrangement applied thereto, and with the outer slip cover removed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper end of the can as taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the relation of the parts and with the slip coverin place covering the hand opening device.

Fig. 3 is a detached plan view of the tin plate which is removed by hand from the opening.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a different attachment of the pull ring to the plate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view'of an auxiliary lid for the can opening.

In further detail the invention contemplates a common tin can with a body 1 double seamed to the head 2 provided with an elongated opening 3 extending radially of the can top and coming quite close to the side wall of the can at 4 and maintaining quite a distance from the opposite side wall as at 5 for a .purpose to be explained.

The opening 3 is reinforced by a downwardly extending rib 6 and an outwardly extending head 7 and bent back and forward as at 11, 12 as shown in Fig. 2 so as to clinch the margins of a closure plate 8 provided at the end nearest the center of the can top with a wire pull ring 9 secured to the plate by suitable means as the strap of tin 10 firmly soldered, riveted or welded to the plate, or the wire, pull ring may be passed through the plate and if desired soldered or welded to the under side of the plate. The arrangement being such that the ring may be either bent back or swung flat with the lid or raised to position for insertion of a finger for pulling the plate out of engagement with the gripping flanges 11, 12 of the opening.

The entire assemblage preferably to be covered with a removable slip over cover as shown at 13 in Fig. 2 which protects the parts before opening and forms a general closure after the plate 8 is removed.

To open the can, it is placed upon a table,

one hand holding it down by pressing against the can top along the blank area 5 while the plate 8 is pulled away from the opening and supporting hand by a finger of the other hand inserted in the ring. The position of the pull device, shape of the opening, its position, and blank space 5 all contributing to the easy removal of the plate in the manner described. I Y

The plate is preferably of extra thin metal so that it will easily collapse in coming out of the marginal flanges gripping it, and if desired the margins may be doped in the common manner of making can seams tight or lightly soldered, the principal object to be achieved is that the plate shall come away bodily and leave a finished opening 3 with a smooth reinforced or beaded edge all around as indicated in Fig, 2.

If desired a friction lid 14 as shown in' Fig. 5 may be provided to close opening 3 after removal of plate 8. l

A can as above described is particularly useful for coffee or other commodities which are not all used up when the can is opened, and the opening 3 lying with one edge close to the rim of the can makes it easy to com pletely empty the can, as well as contributes to facility of opening the can in the manner described. I

Iclaim:

1. A can provided on one head with an opening covered with a thin plate, said plate removably secured along the entire length of its margins to the edges of the opening, and a device secured to said plate within the margins thereof adapted for gripping with the hand for forcibly removing said plate.

2. A can provided on one head with an openin covered with a thin plate, said plate removaibly secured along the entire length of its margins to the edges of the opening, and a device secured to said plate within the margins thereof adapted for gripping with the hand for forcibly removing said plate said opening being in eccentric relation to the can top with one edge adjacent the rim of the can.

3. A can provided on one head with an openin covered with a thin plate, said plate remova 1y secured at its margins to the edges of the openin and a device secured to said plate adaptef for gripping with the hand for forcibly removing said plate, said opening being of elongated form radially disposed on the can top with one end adjacent the rim of the can.

JOSEPH F. QUINN. 

